A UK consortium is developing a new in-car navigation system to beat traffic jams. The ‘Congestion Avoidance Dynamic Routing Engine’ (CADRE) uses artificial intelligence to inform drivers of the best routes to take before they reach a jam — 5 to 10 miles away from the congestion point. The system is able to interpret live traffic information shared between vehicles equipped with a special GPS device. This system should be available commercially by 2010. The researchers think that this system could be extended to ferries, trains and even planes allowing travelers ‘to check different departure times to estimate the best time to travel.’ I think they’re going too far on this last point. A vast majority of people is much more concerned by a flight price than with its duration. But read more…